Skip to main content

Featured Post

The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.
3 comments

Memories of 2013 - Rediscovering Mumbai

I have lived in Mumbai for almost 30 years, and, having wandered around freely and happily, thought I knew the city well. It is only this year that I realised how little I knew about it, especially its hidden secrets. One of the first revelations was a visit to Sewri with the Travel-Logs, who opened my eyes to the incredible history which remains unknown to most of its inhabitants.

The Parel Shiva Heptad



Nothing exemplifies this more than the Parel Shiva Heptad, this monolithic statue of Shiva with seven faces, dating back to the 5th or 6th Century AD. Equally interesting was the Sewri Cemetery, which I hadn't even heard of before. 

Samhith at the BEST Museum


And then, stuck once more at home during the Diwali vacation, we set out on a Museum trail - starting off with the BEST Museum at Anik Depot, then the RBI Monetary Museum, and finally, the CST Heritage Gallery. If the BEST Museum was a big surprise, the Monetary Museum was informative, and the CST Heritage Gallery was sheer delight! We literally had our jaws dropping as we walked along the corridors of the Central Railways Headquarters, seeing the amazing works of art on the walls and pillars! Yes, I have yet to write about it, and I promise, I shall do it soon! 

At the Central Railway Headquarters, CST


Meanwhile, I enjoyed some more Museum time, visiting the Bhau Daji Lad Museum with Sudha Ganapathy, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum, first with Samhith, and then by myself, to see the well curated exhibitions. First, there was the Egyptian Mummy, which was a fascinating one, and then, the Flemish Masterpieces which have come all the way from Antwerp! With more interesting exhibitions coming up at the Museum, the New Year is surely going to see me making more trips to the Museum!! 

The beautifully renovated interiors of the  Dr.Bhau Daji Lad Museum


Related Posts:
  • Storming Sewri 


Labels:
Location: Sewri, Comed Rambhau Dev Ji Patil Road, Gandhi Nagar, Sewri, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400015, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please leave a comment for me so that I will know you have been here....

Popular posts from this blog

Gokarna Part II – The Five Lingams

We continued our Gokarna trip by visiting four other Shiva temples in the vicinity, all connected to the same story of Gokarna. The story of Gokarna mentions the Mahabaleshwara Lingam as the one brought from Kailas by Ravana, and kept at this place on the ground by Ganesha. (See my earlier post- Gokarna – Pilgrimage and Pleasure). However, the story does not end here. It is believed that, in his anger, Ravana flung aside the materials which covered the lingam- the casket, its lid, the string around the lingam, and the cloth covering it. All these items became lingams as soon as they touched the ground. These four lingams, along with the main Mahabaleshwara lingam are collectively called the ‘ Panchalingams’ . These are: Mahabaleshwara – the main lingam Sajjeshwar – the casket carrying the lingam. This temple is about 35 Kms from Karwar, and is a 2 hour drive from Gokarna. Dhareshwar – the string covering the lingam. This temple is on NH17, about 45 Kms south of Gokarna. Gunavanteshw
8 comments
Read more

The Power of 8 - The Ashta Dikpalas and Ashta Vasus at Khajuraho

The four cardinal directions form the axis on which a temple is built, and are thus the basis of temple architecture. Leading from them are the eight directions, which are believed to be guarded by the eight guardians, or Ashta Dikpalas . In the temples of Khajuraho, great care has been taken by the sculptors to carve the Ashta Dikpalas on the walls, both inside and outside. They not only guard the temple, but also look over us as we circumambulate the shrine, protecting us by their presence. They are augmented by the Ashta Vasus , celestial beings which represent natural phenomena. Together, they enhance the idea of the temple as cosmos, enfolding within it, all the aspects of nature, both, on earth, as well in space.
4 comments
Read more

Rama Temple, Gokarna

To my right , the waves rush to the shore, eager to merge with the sand. To my left, the same waves crash against the rocks, their spray diverting my reverie as I ponder over the beauty of nature, and wonder what first brought people here. Was it this beauty that encouraged them to build a temple here, or was it the fresh, sweet spring water flowing from the hill here that made this place special? No matter what the reason, I am glad my auto driver brought me here. We are at the Rama temple in Gokarna, just a few minutes away from the Mahabaleshwara Temple, yet offering so different a perspective.
2 comments
Read more